A CHINESE BLANC DE CHINE 'CHILONG' TEAPOT AND COVER

KANGXI 1662-1722

Decorated in relief with a simple tied ribbon and two chilong clambering over the cylindrical body, one beast arching its back to form the handle, the other with its mouth agape acting as the spout, the flat cover surmounted by a metal bird-shaped finial and joined to the teapot with metal mounts, 17.5cm overall.

Provenance: formerly Marchant; and then the collection of Lady Kate Davson, née Kate Foster (1938-2020). Kate Davson was a prominent dealer in European ceramics. The daughter of Ludovic Foster and Pamela Wilberforce, Kate was brought up near Pulborough in Sussex and educated at Downe House School near Newbury. Kate joined Sotheby's Works of Art Department in 1959. She travelled widely for Sotheby's and set up their Munich office. In 1973, she established the firm of Kate Foster Ltd, with premises in Ryder Street, St. James's. She also founded the French Porcelain Society in 1984. Kate married Christopher Davson (1927-2004) in 1975 and later became Lady Davson in 1998, although she still liked to be known as Kate. She was proud to be the great-great-great grand-daughter of William Wilberforce and was prominent in the bicentenary celebration of Britain's abolition of the Slave Trade in 2007.

Cf. C J A Jörg, Chinese Ceramics in the Collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, p.240, no.272 for a similar example.